Chapter 48: Measure of a Shinobi
Instead of answering Watanabe Musashi's question, Kael changed the subject. "So, what's the mission this time?"
With the Jashinists cleared out, at least within the Land of Hot Water, Kael was curious about what shinobi actually did during peacetime. Surely it wasn't just finding lost cats and dogs for some old lady like in Konoha, right?
"It's an escort mission, the most common type we get during normal times. For items that aren't exceptionally valuable, the merchants in the Land of Hot Water are still willing to entrust the job to us," Tanabe Kaze explained, a hint of pleasure in his voice, seemingly happy that the village was getting work.
Watanabe Musashi remained silent, while Toneri's eyes darkened slightly, lost in thought.
"An escort mission..." Kael murmured. He understood the implication behind Tanabe's words, "not particularly valuable items."
So, for truly valuable cargo, even merchants from the Land of Hot Water wouldn't hire Hidden Hot Water shinobi... This village... really doesn't even have the trust of its own people, he thought, feeling a little exasperated. He kept the thought to himself, not wanting to rub salt in their wounds.
"Alright, we'll discuss the mission details on the way. Our client should have been waiting outside the village for a while now. We don't want to keep them waiting," Watanabe Musashi said, glancing at his pocket watch and cutting the conversation short.
"Yes, sir!" Kael, Tanabe, and Toneri replied.
But Kael couldn't help but complain internally again. Seriously, we're shinobi! It's bad enough that the merchants here look down on us, but why don't we have any prestige as 'Honorable Ninja' either? The roles feel completely reversed!
A bad feeling started to creep into his heart.
When they reached the village entrance, his premonition quickly became reality.
From dozens of meters away, Kael spotted several richly dressed figures. One of them, a potbellied middle-aged man, was pacing impatiently back and forth in front of the gate, his face dark.
Seeing Kael's group emerge, the man hurried over with his attendants. Before he even stopped, he launched into an angry tirade.
"Why are you Hidden Hot Water shinobi so slow this time?! Don't you know my time is precious? If this happens again, I won't be hiring shinobi from your village anymore!"
"Huh?" Kael took a deep breath, staring in disbelief at the offensively rude, fat man.
Because of what Watanabe Musashi had said earlier, Kael had tried to prepare himself on the way out of the village, but reality was still hard to swallow. Just from these few words, he could clearly feel how low the status of Hidden Hot Water shinobi was in the eyes of the Land of Hot Water's upper class.
This was just some nouveau riche merchant, someone who still had to come personally to the village to commission a mission, yet he dared to scold them—shinobi who possessed chakra and could easily decide his life or death—without any restraint.
What the hell? Did I walk onto the wrong movie set? Maybe this isn't the Shinobi World, but some parallel universe where merchants are nobility? I'm a shinobi! Do I really have zero prestige in the eyes of an ordinary merchant? Is there no justice? Huh? Is there no law?
Kael's face was a mask of disbelief. He could accept having no status among the major nations; the Hidden Hot Water Village was undeniably small and insignificant, just a handful of ninja. It was normal for the major villages to look down on them; even he himself felt a bit contemptuous sometimes.
He could feel that contempt, but people outside the village? Kael wouldn't stand for it. Because the forehead protector he wore bore the symbol of the Hidden Hot Water!
You damn civilian, what the hell are you putting on airs for?!
A cold light flashed in Kael's eyes. He raised his right hand, about to slap the fat man across his insolent face.
Suddenly, his wrist was gripped tightly. He instinctively tried to pull free but found he couldn't move. Startled, he looked down.
Watanabe Musashi had stepped between him and the merchant, holding Kael's arm firmly behind his back.
"Mr. Kawabe, long time no see. Still as impatient as ever, I see," Watanabe Musashi said with a smile, greeting the fat man as if completely unfazed by his earlier rudeness.
The fat man paused, surprised. Watanabe had been standing behind the others, so he hadn't seen him initially. But when Watanabe stepped forward, the merchant's displeasure instantly vanished, replaced by an ecstatic grin.
"Watanabe-sama! Long time no see, indeed! I never expected commissioning a simple B-rank escort mission would bring a Jonin like yourself out. This is fantastic! Now I can rest easy! Hahahaha..."
"I'm just guiding the newcomers. Your time is precious, Mr. Kawabe. Shall we depart now? Where is the cargo for this mission?" Watanabe Musashi smiled faintly.
"My caravan is just up ahead, resting. Shall we head over now, Watanabe-sama?"
"Alright."
Watanabe Musashi and the fat merchant walked off, chatting amiably. Tanabe Kaze and Watanabe Toneri quickly followed.
Only Kael remained frozen, staring blankly at Watanabe's retreating figure. Pristine snowflakes fell from the sky, dusting his black hair white. His face was calm, betraying no emotion. But he alone knew that the white frost felt like it was clinging to his heart, turning it cold as ice.
Crunch...
Tanabe Kaze noticed someone was missing and stopped, turning back to look at Kael. "Kael, what are you doing standing there? Let's go!"
Beside him, Watanabe Toneri also paused slightly and slowly turned around. Seeing Kael still standing motionless, he understood immediately, and a complex expression flickered across his face. It was like looking at his past self.
Tanabe, with his straightforward personality, had long grown accustomed to the humiliation of being looked down upon by ordinary people and didn't mind it. But Toneri knew how subservient these worthless merchants acted when dealing with shinobi from major villages like Konoha.
After a moment of silence, he stopped Tanabe from going back. "Let's go," he said quietly. "Let him have a moment alone back there. It's something you just have to get over..."
Tanabe looked at him, confused. "Get over? Get over what? Going on a mission in the dead of winter?"
Ignoring him, Toneri thought silently, Father places high hopes on you, even taking time out of his incredibly busy schedule to personally guide you through mission procedures. Lord Leader himself pulled you out of the academy, planning to promote you to Chunin after just a few missions. He even assigned me and Tanabe, the geniuses of the village's younger generation, to your squad. Our former squad members are all going to be under your command soon, you freshly graduated squad leader!
Toneri's gaze grew deep. Kael Cross, surely you possess greater magnanimity than this.